Hail history for Laurel County, KY

Laurel County has 129 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 67 of them 1″ or larger and 8 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on May 1, 2002.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May

Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026

Mark size = measured hail diameter; slivers are events with no recorded size. Amber ≥2″, red ≥2.75″ (baseball class). Denser recent decades partly reflect better reporting, not only more storms.

Recorded events 129 since 1967

1″ or larger 67 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 8 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · May 1, 2002

Read the record honestly: Storm Events contains what was reported to the National Weather Service. Sparse or rural counties under-report, and coverage improved sharply after the mid-1990s — a quiet-looking stretch is not proof nothing fell.

When it hails in Laurel County

Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Laurel County's peak: May.

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 129 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 8, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 8, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
May 8, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
April 30, 2025	0.75″	Penny
April 10, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
September 24, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
September 24, 2024	1.0″	Quarter

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Laurel County.

From the storm reports

Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).

May 8, 2025 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

A report from mPING noted golf ball sized hail (1.75 inches) near the Keavy community.

March 23, 2011 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

The hail was the size of tennis balls.

May 1, 2002 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

During the evening of May 1st, a severe thunderstorm moving southeast dumped a large swath of hail ranging in size from pennies to softballs across a large portion of Laurel County. Numerous homes and vehicles were damaged, especially in the town of London.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	4	1	16	64	24	19

The climb across decades is largely a reporting story: spotter networks, radar, and digital filing pulled far more storms into the record after the 1990s.

Questions about hail in Laurel County

Has it ever hailed in Laurel County?

Yes — 129 hail events have been recorded for Laurel County, KY in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1967, including 67 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Laurel County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Laurel County, KY is May 8, 2025, with 1.5″ (ping-pong ball) hail. The database is currently updated through April 2026, so a storm from the last few weeks may not appear yet. To check a specific day, use the did-it-hail date lookup.

What is the largest hail ever recorded in Laurel County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 1, 2002. Hail that size is destructive-class and typically damages roofs, vehicles, and siding. See how big that really is on the actual-size hail chart.

Does a recorded hail event mean my roof was damaged?

No. This page reports storm records, not damage. Hail size and damage vary block by block within a county, and only an inspection can establish what happened to a specific roof. If you suspect damage, talk to your insurer or a licensed roofer — they can pull the same NOAA records for your claim.

More Kentucky hail history

All 120 Kentucky counties, ranked by recorded hail →

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, public domain, updated monthly by NCEI — this site's copy runs through April 2026. HailHistory reports records; it does not give insurance advice or assess damage.